Dear Principal,
The California Science Teacher’s Association, California Department of Education, California Science Project, K-12 Alliance and WestEd, in conjunction with the National Science Teacher’s Association are implementing a program called “Building a Presence for Science”. The mission of this program is to end the isolation of classroom science teachers and to provide them with professional development opportunities and science teaching resources. This should be of benefit to all grade levels that are trying to align themselves to the current state standards.
One of the initial goals of the program is to establish a network to assist in getting information to all of the teachers in California. To this end, I have been selected as a Key Leader in this area of California. My job is to help identify and communicate with individuals at each school site that are willing to become a Point of Contact (POC) for their school. Their job will be to pass along information and resources provided to them to the other instructors at their site.
We need your help in identifying and setting up one or more POC(s) for your site. This program is totally voluntary, but we do not wish to leave out any school in California. I have enclosed a nomination form for your school. If you have any questions I can be reached at the address listed below or via email at your-email@email.com
What do POCs do?
- Attend a Point of Contact training session (2-3 hours, after school or weekend) to learn their role as POC and receive science content professional development.
- Periodically share information with their science teaching colleagues (Short informative messages at staff meetings, or through a bulletin board in the staff lounge, or messages via email or school mailboxes.)
- Maintain communication with Key Leaders and other Points of Contact (we encourage them to attend professional meetings when possible)
What's in it for the teachers?
- Personal and Professional Growth
- Leadership opportunities and recognition for leadership in the California Science Teachers Association and the National Science Teachers Association
- Copies of publications such as Strategic Science Teaching Supporting California Standards, Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth, and ENC Focus Magazine for Classroom Innovators
- Participation in a national, electronic network that provides them with the most recent science information and opportunities
What's in it for your school?
- Professional learning opportunities in science for the teachers.
- Up-to-date information on national and state standards, curriculum and instruction resources.
- A steady line of communication from the national, state and local level regarding the implementation of science standards.
Thank you in advance for any assistance that you can provide in this matter. I look forward to working with you and your colleagues in a program that will be sure to improve science instruction across California.
Sincerely,
Your Name, Key Leader
Contact information
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Point of Contact Nomination Form
Please complete the application below and submit it to ______________ (your name) at __________ (contact information) by ________________. You may have more than one Point of Contact at your school site, if you wish.
PLEASE PRINT
School _________________________
Point(s) of Contact:
Teacher _________________________
Grade _________________________
Email address _________________________
Additional Teacher _________________________
Grade _________________________
Email address _________________________
Principal _________________________
